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To get pearls, one must dive deep …

Monthly Archives: November 2012

Growing up, one of the songs, I used to listen to was the song entitled “The Power”. This song is an electronic pop song that was produced for the album “World Power” by the the German group “Snap!”. Shortly after its release in 1990, it became an international hit and topped the ranks assuming the #1 status in the United States Billboard, the United Kingdom, Switzerland and Netherlands.

Many today seek power, but unfortunately they look for it in the wrong place with the wrong attitude. High ranking titles and positions with a proud, arrogant and egotistic attitude brings with them absolutely no power. Being a servant with an attitude of being unashamed for the gospel of Jesus Christ is where True Power lies, because it is not the power of man, but the Power of God unto Salvation to everyone (no one is excluded) who believes. (Romans 1:16).

Points to ponder:
Am I ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ? Are you ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ? In other words, can I say of myself or you of yourself – “I’ve got The Power?” Now, that is snappy.

Romans 1:16 (KJV)16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

There are some Christians who are ardent in calling the name of the Lord but apathetic when it comes to conveying his mighty works including his mighty deed of Salvation through his Son, Jesus Christ. On the other hand, there are some Christians who are ready to convey the mighty works of the Lord and his gospel which mightily saves us from second death, but seldom do they take the time to call on his name before conveying.

The scripture teaches us that we ought to call on the name of the Lord and make known (convey) his deeds among the people (1 Chronicles 16:8). In other words, to know the mighty deeds that God is to accomplish, we need to call on him, and when he confides his covenant with us who fear him (Psalm 25:14), we have to make known his mighty deeds as he accomplishes them.

Points to ponder:
Are you/I calling on the name of the Lord?
Are you/I conveying the mighty works of the Lord?
More importantly, are you/I calling the name of the Lord AND conveying his mighty deeds among all people?

1 Chronicles 16:8 (KJV)8 Give thanks unto the Lord, call upon his name, make known [convey] his deeds among the people.

Growing up as an athlete, I have heard the official say many times, “On your marks, get set, go” and on some occasions, a synonym of that which is “Ready, Steady, Go” as we runners, took our position on the starting blocks. The Apostle Paul likens the Christian life to be a race and cautions that we run in a race as one who obtains the prize in the end of the race (1 Corinthians 9:24).

So how can we run, so that we may obtain. It starts with a ready mind, a steady mind and a going mind.
One cannot be ready and unsteady and win the race for they may run into another lane and get disqualified.
One cannot be steady and not ready and win the race for when the command to go is given, they will be left behind in the starting blocks.
One cannot be both ready and steady but not going and expect to win to race. One must go, when commanded to.

We must receive the word about the Word of God (Jesus Christ) who became flesh with a READY mind (Acts 17:11).
We must not waver but be STEADY in our mind, fixing our eyes on the Jesus whose day is at hand to reward each one, according as his work shall be. (2 Thessalonians 2:22; Revelation 22:12)
We must take the Word of God and GO into all nations, teaching them and baptizing them in the name of the Father God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost (Matthew 28:19).

Points to ponder:
Can it be said of you and me – Ready, Steady, Go?

1 Corinthians 9:24 (KJV)24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.

Acts 17:11 (KJV)11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

2 Thessalonians 2:2 (KJV)2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.

Matthew 28:19-20 (KJV)19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Romans 8:31 affirms that if God the Father is for us then who can be against us?
Matthew 28:20 assures that Jesus, God’s Only begotten Son is with us, even unto the end of the world and so we need to go, teach all nations and baptize in the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Ghost.
1 Corinthians 6:19 advises us that we ought to glorify God in our body and in our spirit, because God, the Holy Ghost is in us.

Points to ponder:
When God is for us, When Jesus is with us, When the Holy Ghost is in us
we have not just good company but God company.
Do you/I have God company?

Romans 8:31 (KJV)31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

Matthew 28:19-20 (KJV)19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (KJV)19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

There are many reasons to be thankful for and the scripture teaches us that “in everything, give thanks.” This message hit home quite profoundly, when our six year old beloved firstborn son, Reuben, brought home a thanksgiving exercise that he had done at his school. His first grade teacher had asked the students to write three reasons as to why they should be thankful for and he penned down the following three (see image).1.my sibling (Ittai) because he will play with me and he will be a good brother when he grows up.2. the World because the world is our home.3. my Mom and Dad because they love me very very very much. my God because he saved us from dieing and from sin.

Reuben reminded me that we ought to be thankful for our brothers (and sisters). Jesus called his disciples his brothers after he was resurrected (Matthew 28:10), bringing about the adoption of sons by God – many sons into glory (Hebrews 2:10). Reuben also reminded me that we should be thankful for this world and tend to it, while it is our home until we inherit the place that Jesus has gone ahead to prepare for us in his Father’s (God’s) house (John 14:2-3). Furthermore, Reuben reminded me that we ought to honor our father and mother, as we are commanded to and be thankful to them, but most of all, we should thankful to Jesus (God) for his salvation, for whoever believes in Jesus is saved from die-ing and from sin (2 Timothy 1:9-10).

Points to ponder:
Are we thankful to God for our neighbors (loving them as brothers and sisters)?
Are we thankful to God for the world in which we are placed as his ambassadors until we inherit his joy in the place that is being prepared for us?
Are we thankful to God for our parents?
Above all, are we thankful to God for Jesus, who has saved us by his death, so that we need not die?
Have you thanked God for God?

2 Timothy 1:9-10 (KJV)9 Who hath savedus, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:

It is thanksgiving season and there are many reasons for us to be thankful to God for, but have you ever wondered what Jesus was thankful for. Luke 24 records the account of Jesus appearing to the two men, who were walking on the road to Emmaus. When the two sad men encounter Jesus, not recognizing who he is, they tell him, how they trusted that Jesus to be their redeemer but it is three days since he was murdered and yet there was no sign of any salvation (Luke 24:21). Jesus then expounds to them, from all the scriptures, things concerning himself, and as evening fell, they urged him to stay with them (as their guest). Jesus agreed to stay but does not take the position of a guest (Luke 24:13-21). Instead the Bible records, that he took bread and blessed (gave thanks for) it, broke it and gave it to them (Luke 24:30). It was customary for the Master or Head of the household to be the one taking the food and serving it. As soon as the two saw the Master Jesus at the table, their eyes (spiritual) were opened and they recognized (knew) him as Lord (Luke 24:31), for the witness that they immediately take back to the eleven disciples in Jerusalem is “The LORD is risen.” (Luke 24:34)

Jesus gave thanks to God as The Master and not as the guest, and was recognized as The Lord. In the washing of the feet of his disciples, the disciples addressed Jesus as Master and Lord and Jesus recognizes this, but purposefully reverses what he is to be known (recognized) as. The disciples called him Master and Lord (and yes he is) but Jesus refers to himself first as Lord and then as Master (John 13:13-14). Jesus thanked God and was recognized as Lord.

Points to ponder:Even today, Jesus expounds from all of the scriptures all the things concerning himself to you and me. As darkness surrounds us, do we urge him to stay in our lives, not just as the guest but as our Master and as he communes with us, do we recognize him as Lord? If you have not trusted in Jesus as your Lord and Master, tarry no further, but instead place your trust in him, today. Let today, be your day of real thanksgiving (2 Corinthians 6:2) and for those who have trusted in Jesus, we can give thanks this thanksgiving season, for Jesus is not only Master (of our lives), but the Lord (of our lives) as well.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Luke 24:13-36 (KJV)13 And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs.14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened.15 And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.16 But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.17 And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?18 And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?19 And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people:20 And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him.21 But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.22 Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre;23 And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive.24 And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not.25 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.28 And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further.29 But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them.30 And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them.31 And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.32 And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?33 And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them,34 Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.35 And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread.36 And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

It is thanksgiving season and there are many reasons for us to be thankful to God for, but have you ever wondered what Jesus was thankful for. John 11 records the account of Jesus miraculously resurrecting his friend, Lazarus, back from the dead. But before Jesus performed this miracle, the Bible records, that Jesus was glad that he was not in the city where Lazarus was, when he was alive, so that people may believe in him (John 11:15) and he gave thanks (John 11:41-42). Upon seeing what Jesus did through the miracle of resurrection, many of those who had gathered around the tomb of Lazarus believed (John 11:45).

Points to ponder:
Jesus gave thanks to God for the miracle of resurrection, not only as an event (where Lazarus is raised) (John 11:44), but also in his person (so that people may see and believe that Jesus is indeed who he claimed to be – the resurrection and the life) (John 11:15,25,42,45). Today Jesus, our friend, may not seem to be where we want him to be. In the midst of our troubles that seem to take the life out of us, we may feel that we have no hope. Jesus is glad that he is not where we want him to be, so that we may believe, when we see (with our spiritual eyes), that he is indeed the resurrection and the life and those who believe in him, even though they are dead, yet they shall life. Have you seen life? Have you seen Jesus Christ – our resurrection and our life? Have you believed in him? We can give thanks this thanksgiving season, for Jesus who shows us that He is Life!

John 11: 15,25-26,41-45 (KJV)15 And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him
…25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
…41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.42 And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.43 And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.44 And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.45 Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him.